This Date in Caps History - November 5

On November 5, 1979, head coach Dan Belisle was fired just 16 games into his second season behind the bench. Belisle posted a 24-41-15 record in his first season, the best season the Caps had managed to that date in their history. But Washington started slowly in 1979-80, going 4-10-2 through 16 games and spelling the end of Belisle’s career behind the Washington bench. Gary Green was hired as Belisle’s permanent replacement on November 14, 1979. At 26, Green was the youngest head coach in NHL history.

Two years later, on November 5, 1981, Green also fell victim to a slow start and was replaced by assistant general manager Roger Crozier. When Green got the ax, the Caps were 1-12-0 and had lost 11 straight. On November 11, Bryan Murray was hired as Green’s permanent replacement. Murray remained on the job until January of 1990.